“This song announces the next show at the Gole dell’Alcantara and the title is Paradise!”.
To the tune of the famous song by Patty Pravo, Ivan Giambirtone launched a joking announcement during the party organized by the producers to celebrate with the Company the conclusion of the very successful 2026 edition ofHell of Dante in the Alcantara Gorges.
“We are here to celebrate the end of Hell – said Simone Trischitta, president of Buongiorno Sicilia – and we would like to thank Gole Alcantara srl for hosting us. But also the Sicilian Region, the Federico II Foundation, the Alcantara River Park and the Municipalities of Motta Camastra and Castiglione di Sicilia. We are really happy and we also want to thank the public for continuously rewarding us sold out”.
“A definitely positive balance – confirmed Giovanni Anfuso, director and author of the dramaturgy of Hell – the one who hugged us at the end of this event long, tiring but certainly full of satisfactions: the critics, the press, the affection of many spectators who returned to see the show giving us sold out. And this thanks to a cast extraordinary who had the ability to throw his heart over the obstacle: all the Damned and all the interpreters. So let’s say goodbye to our audience because next year new stories and new tales await us. Always at the Alcantara Gorges”.
During the party, which took place in a splendid Villa, the two executive producers of Buongiorno Sicilia, Ninni Trischitta and Luciano Catotti, thanked the members of the Company for their commitment, confirming that they are working on a new initiative in the Gole for next year.
“We hope – concluded Simone Trischitta – that the spectators will like the project, which we will talk about later, and above all we hope to be able to work with the same synergy that we found this year with all the entities mentioned above”.
To close the news of the party with a smile, here is the statement from Davide Sbrogiò – veteran, with Liliana Randi and Giovanna Mangiù, of the show: “I wanted to tell you that I too have done more than 400 performances of theHell of Dante and it is not true that next year we will create Paradise. Don’t worry!”.
If the 2026 edition of Hell ended, even the last performances – at the end of the second performance on 6 September there was a real ovation – were marked by the participation of personalities who showed that they really enjoyed Hell.
“It is the second edition that I have seen – commented Concetto Mannisi, president of the Order of Journalists of Sicily – of this show, which is always fascinating. First of all for the scenery, the natural stage of the Alcantara Gorges, and then because the actors are very good, so much so that they have deserved sold out until the end of the season.”
“The first edition seen – he added – was a punch in the stomach. Seeing the second allows you to grasp details that almost invite you to reread the Divine Comedy. I intend to do so thanks also to you”.
A return also for Alessia Melcangi, historian and political scientist, frequent guest on important television and radio programmes.
“Every year – he said – a wonderful rite is repeated at the Alcantara Gorges, with a show, theHellwhich, mixing colours, emotions and culture, lends itself very well to being represented in this magnificent setting. It is the Mediterranean that comes together and unites, in this classic that is revived, to make us reflect on the past and on what, unfortunately, is the present. So it’s always an exciting experience and we hope to be able to do it again in the future.”
Also Stefano Onofri – leading actor of tour Italian and international shows directed by Zeffirelli and Strehler (but he is also the Italian voice of Spiderman and Lupine III) – declared that, having seen the show, he “made me want to re-read the wholeHell”.
“Being here this evening – he then underlined – was a truly unique event for me. Witnessing this magical show, in this magical place, with very good actors and a direction that supported them, using this place in the best way possible, was a gift for me”.
Then, as mentioned, the final party. At which all the actors were present – Liliana Randi, Davide Sbrogiò, Salvo Piro, Giovanna Mangiù, Ivan Giambirtone, Luigi Nicotra, William Caruso, Federico Fiorenza, Davide Pandolfo and Peter Passalacqua – and the Damned: Chiara Di Giovanni, Giulia De Marzi, Alessia Linguaglossa, Marta Marino, Gaia Palmeri, Lucio Rapisarda, Francesco Rotatore, Emiliano Sgroi, Gloria Trischitta and Federica Zuccarello. Then there were Valentina Ferrante and Lucia Rotondo, assistant directors.